Medidas de proteção contra a Covid-19: impactos na comunicação de usuários de aparelhos de amplificação sonora individual

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the communicative and social impact generated by the adoption of protective measures against COVID-19 and correlate with degree of hearing loss and time of use of hearing aids in adults and elderly. Methods: Crosssectional and quantitative study, the sample was constituted by 72 individuals who attended in a public hearing health program, at an average of 61.6 years, with bilateral hearing loss until moderately severe degree, users of hearing aids adapted before the pandemic and who maintained effective use. The subjects were invited, while waiting for the medical appointment and, then, sign the consent form. After that, medical records were accessed in order to collect information about audiological profile and adaptation/use of hearing aids. Afterwards, a protocol containing objective questions was orally applied in a silent room. Data were tabulated and submitted to Equality of Two Proportions and Chi-Square statistical tests (p<0.05). Results: A significant number of users had their communication impacted by the use of masks and physical distancing, but there were no difficulties with the use of digital technologies. The communicative impediment existed regardless the audiological profile and time of devices use. When asked if they stopped communicating and if, in general, the measures affected their social life, the sample was divided. Conclusion: The protective measures significantly affected the communication of hearing aid users; however, such difficulties are not related to audiological profile and time of devices use. However, these measures did not discourage communicative exchanges and social interactions for approximately half of the sample.